How sturdy are biscuit joints in MDF? TEST TUESDAY! [148]

Uploaded by Richard F on January 31, 2019 at 9:45 am

How sturdy are biscuit joints in MDF? TEST TUESDAY! [148]

A short while in the past Keith Brown from Rag 'n' Bone Brown did some nice testing on end-grain to end-grain joints to see how a lot stronger the joints have been utilizing biscuits - the outcomes have been actually fascinating - there is a hyperlink to Keith's video beneath! At present I'll perform the same check however this time on end-grain to face-grain MDF, which is a joint I take advantage of very often within the workshop for MDF cupboards, shelving and the like. Let's have a look at how sturdy these joints are with and with no biscuit - welcome again to Take a look at Tuesday!

Learn the total article and check specs right here: http://gosforthhandyman.com/how-strong-are-biscuit-joints/

A short while in the past Keith Brown from Rag ‘n’ Bone Brown did some nice testing on end-grain to end-grain joints to see how a lot stronger the joints have been utilizing biscuits – the outcomes have been actually fascinating – there is a hyperlink to Keith’s video beneath! At present I’ll perform the same check however this time on end-grain to face-grain MDF, which is a joint I take advantage of very often within the workshop for MDF cupboards, shelving and the like. Let’s have a look at how sturdy these joints are with and with no biscuit – welcome again to Take a look at Tuesday!

Learn the total article and check specs right here: http://gosforthhandyman.com/how-strong-are-biscuit-joints/

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Comments

I really want to see a shear test on biscuits. the “lever” tests all over YouTube are all virtually the same. Furniture and projects rarely use such a load. The load is almost always placed to create a shear force.

This test placed an angular force on the join which is unnatural. I suspect a domino probably would've won this test but only marginally. It would be better to repeat the test using a 'H' shape with biscuits (and/or glue) on two sides and place the anchor in the middle of the 'H' so that the force is perfectly linear. I bet the results will be massively different, or at least the MDF will fail again and not the biscuits themselves. In this scenario I hypothesise that biscuits will definitely add strength especially when using a material other than MDF.

Hello happy holidays, I was always under the impression that biscuits weren't designed to be for strength but more to be for an alignment of parts they're not as solid as a Domino biscuits are made out of Beachwood, Correct…? That's my take on things…

Interesting experiment, but MDF is not a structural product. According to the Composite Panel Association, it's a "decorative surface panel". So if you're thinking of using MDF in an application where the joint strength (as measured here) is important, you might want to consider a more appropriate product.

Thanks for sharing. Todays adhesives are very strong compared to those used 100 years ago. Anyone who has renovated old furniture will attest to that. But nobody can say what our PVA adhesive joint will be like in 100 years. Perhaps the biscuits in a housing joint will still keep the book shelf together after the adhesive has crumbled to dust. I prefer pocket holes. They are very strong and won't catrastrophically fail, and the joint can be dismantled if a change is required. I like to think that those wonderful stainless Kreg screws will not end up as powder after 100 years.

Hello and a great video!!!. I have 2 questions for you sir, the first is would you use a biscuit joint for Birch Ply wood and also please can you tell me what size buscuit you would use for it presuming the thickness is 18mm. Many thanks and keep the videos coming 🙂

I see you used the Dewalt biscuit jointer as they are one of your sponsors. I own the same jointer but also the equivalent Porter Cable. My experience is that the starting torque for the Dewalt causes the jointer to move to the left which takes it off the alignment mark; The Porter Cable moves less. I think there is a Dewalt design flaw in that the D-handle is attached to the plunge portion of the jointer. For the Porter Cable, the D-handle is attached to the stationary part of the jointer plus the entire face that mates with the work piece has a rough anti-skid material on it.

This is a good test method but I think the main thing you have proved is that MDF is a weak material. Were you to repeat this using solid timber I think you would find that the joint would be stronger with biscuits. Thanks for all your fine work in producing these videos.